The Congress of South African Trade Unions has condemned as “racist and completely unacceptable” remarks made by government spokesman Jimmy Manyi that there are too many coloureds in the Western Cape.
“Such remarks are racist and completely unacceptable,” Cosatu said in a statement on Friday.
“They fly in the face of the commitment of the country, the ANC and its allies to a non-racial society, in which the rights of all citizens are protected by our constitution and laws and must be treated with respect and dignity.”
Manyi made the remarks in an interview broadcast on KykNet in March 2010, while he was still director general of labour. The interview was posted on the internet site YouTube by the trade union Solidarity on Thursday.
“They should spread in the rest of the country... so they must stop this over-concentration situation because they are in over-supply where they are,” Manyi said.
“So you must look into the country and see where you can meet the supply.”
Cosatu said the remarks would further inflame fears within the coloured community, raised by “false and provocative suggestions” by Solidarity.
Solidarity has said that amendments to the Employment Equity Act will lead to a million jobs for coloureds.
“Cosatu has already condemned Solidarity and its allies in the DA for this attempt to turn 'coloured' voters against the ANC,” the federation said.
The ANC distanced itself from Manyi's remarks on Friday, saying they were “disturbing” and “unacceptable”. - Sapa